Anderson Places Second at NCAA Indoor Championships

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Nickesha Anderson finished second in the women’s 200 meters with the world’s second-fastest time for the University of Kansas at day one of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at the RandalTysonTrackCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Anderson ran a career-best of 22.62 in the finals of the 200-meter dash, placing just behind Texas freshman Bianca Knight’s time of 22.40 – the eighth fastest time in the history of the event and an NCAA record. Anderson’s eight points in the event place the women’s team in 13th after day one of the competition. The majority of the women will compete on Saturday.

“It didn’t take away from the experience,” Anderson said of placing second. “I am so proud to be a Jayhawk. Even the (KU athletes) who didn’t qualify (for the Championships) came out to support us. That’s just something we Jayhawks love to do. I was happy. I even saw my name on a banner.”

Anderson also qualified for the 60 meters final on Saturday. She had the fifth-fastest time in the prelims at 7.23, one-hundredth of a second off her season-best performance.

“Nickesha did a great job today,” sprints coach Elisha Brewer said. “It was a great race and I am very proud of her.”

Sophomore Jordan Scott finished ninth in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.30 meters (17 feet, 4 ½ inches). Scott missed his first two attempts at that height before clearing the bar on his final try.

Day two will begin at 2 p.m. for Kansas with Egor Agafonov attempting to defend his national championship in the weight throw. Horton is in the shot put at 4:30 p.m. and Sultanova starts the pole vault at 5 p.m. Coming off her Big 12 championship in the triple jump, Manning will begin competition at 6:30 p.m. She will then join Anderson, who competes in the finals of the 60 meters at 7:15 p.m., Stowers and Butler in the final event of the Championships. The school-record holding 1,600-meter relay team will start at 8:20 p.m.

Complete results of the NCAA Championships can be found at www.kuathletics.com.